Clutter and disorganization is a big problem. We are a society of stuff and it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed by the piles that surround us. In her book, Get the Big O: Organized: 7 Steps to Achieving Calm, Clarity, and Control in Your Space, Mind - and Life!, Gayle Gruenberg addresses the mental health aspects of organizing and delves into how getting organized is an act of self-care offering real change. She draws on multiple decades of real-life scenarios from working with clients living with Chronic Disorganization, as well as the brain science behind getting organized.
In a recent conversation, Gayle discussed the problem and her process. Here is some of what she said.
On how clutter impacts us:
Clutter and disorganization affect people in three ways: they take up space in the home, head, and heart. In their homes, people want to feel safe and on top of their “stuff.” Clutter and disorganization take up head space, which leads to brain fog, difficulty making decisions, and self-recrimination. Some people acquire and keep possessions to fill a void in their hearts and souls, which then can lead to feelings of overwhelm and being out of control, feeling disconnected from others – so relationships suffer, and feeling disconnected from their higher power.
On why it’s a problem:
Clutter and disorganization tend to come from the inside rather than from external sources. Clients experience significant and real pain about being disorganized; they call when they can’t bear it any longer and sometimes literally beg for help.
On determining if there’s a problem:
Deciding if disorganization is a problem for oneself is very subjective. If clutter and being disorganized doesn’t bother you, there isn’t a problem. If it does bother you, then you recognize that something in your life isn’t working and may be ready for change. Determining if someone else is struggling with clutter and disorganization is harder to do, as there is lots of shame around it. Clients often say, “I should be able to do this myself” and “What’s wrong with me?!”
On brain-based conditions and clutter:
Many brain-based challenges can contribute to clutter and chronic disorganization, especially Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Clients also live with anxiety disorders like OCD, depression, and traumatic brain injury. As well, physical challenges like sensory impairment, injury, and mobility issues contribute to chronic disorganization.
On why clutter is an act of self care:
It’s essential to do the internal work first before taking on an organizing project. There is usually a big WHY for wanting to get organized, which often reflects someone’s core values. Organizing to your core values makes it much easier to set boundaries, decide how to spend your resources of time, money, and energy, and maintain the organizing systems you create. Organizing also has many health benefits, like lowering stress, improving sleep, and even losing weight!
On getting organized:
It doesn’t really matter where you start, as long as you start. Following the steps in the book, especially doing the internal work, helps create a roadmap to successfully starting and completing an organizing project. It’s OK to ask for help, whether it’s a friend, professional organizer, or mental health professional.
On a favorite strategy:
My two favorite strategies are body doubling and color-coding. Body doubling means literally being there with someone and holding the space for them to do an organizing project. It makes a potentially lonely and mundane activity social and fun, and the project gets done. Color-coding makes it easy to identify what category something belongs to, saves time finding and storing things, and makes a “boring” or menial task a little more appealing.